St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-16

| lays his hand upon her arm tnuS arrest
ing Fer footsteps also.
eff love be indeed all-powerful how is
it that I have faileds' he asks in u low
tone. "No love was ever stronger than
! that I bear for you, and yet it has been
of no avail when matched against the
barrier that stands between you and me.
Hes 1t been my fault, or is it that the
leSe should be equal on both sides, and
that-yours-falls below the mark"
She had been standing with lowered
lids and trembling hands, but now, as
though forced to it against her will, she
looks at him. Her large, dark, mournful
eyes are full of reproach-mute, but 80
terrible that his heart grows warm within
him. Alas! how clearly in those melan-
choly eyes is her pure love lying.
at is true. then! I have your love-" he
says, always in low voice, but none the
less ecstatically; land if so, my dearest,
why will you repulse me: All. have
| pity on me, if you will not on YOURSELF
Think-think before you sacrifice us
both to a mistaken sense of duty
II have given my word,'' says Nadine
! -''my promise"
I "a word-a promise-better broken
| See here, my love, I have lived many
| j
says after a pause. that is filled with re-
greet for those past hours when he had
not known her, and when another had
borne his name--another unloved and
undesired. Il cannot bear to think what
years lie between your birthday and
mine; but still my very age gives me the
right to speak. Is it good that you
should surrender all your happiness to
| one for whom you have no real regard,
Just because you once gave him a hope
to that effect? Nay, there is no loyalty
in that. Better let him go than live to
repent the bargain he has made"
There is my word" persists she.
meekly but earnestly. az cannot take
that back; and he, too, loves me. He
loves me SO well, declares she with an
intuition that has revealed to her the
real passion Of the man whom she has
promised to marry, ''that ! think it
would kill him did now prove false"
''You are very tender toward him.
exclaims he bitterly. But of me? how
is it with me? No, shall not die; am
not made of such brittle stuff as this
other lover OF yours. | shall probably
live, even though you forsake me; but
what of my life? is it to be all barreu-an
wasted? Have You no pity left for me?"
"Alas! is it kind to torture me%' says
she, with such a forlorn glance as once
more reduces him to forgetfulness Of
self, and to the old passionate regret for
her.
F'It is kind. If my cruelty can rescue
you from the Slough of Despond into
which you now are drifting it is more
than kind What! will you live out all
your fresh young life without a joy-all
hope? Nadine, implore you to pause"
at is too late" She lays her palms
upon her bosom and regards him with
blanched cheeks ooh. if had only met
you sooner; but now-now''-
''Your words are an acknowledgment of
your love for mel cries he casting his
arms about her. II will surrender you
to no man. Nadine! Beloved! Do not
shrink from Ine-do not seek to unloose
my arms
'Have not told you that all this comes
too late? II am to be married in fort
night
1t is his turn to shrink, to pale. He
opens his arms instinctively, and lets her
draw back from him with quivering lips,
and trembling limbs that almost refuse to
support her
Il will not believe it, he says at last
hoarseIy. "a fortnight To give your
self body and soul to one for whom you
are caring nothing-in a fortnight
Child! Darling! Say it is not TIRE"
'sI cannot!'' She has buried her face
in her hands
Sand that is woman's honor-a
woman's honesty" says he, pacing to
and fro upon the messy sward with
disturbed brow, and lips stern and COM
pressed. ''Do you think this man will
thank you for the empty casket you are
offeril Z him? The body without the sonl
would be to me worthless. Who shall
say he does not think as | do? Come
stopping short before her and gazing at
her fiXedly-ttell me the name of this
city clerk who stands between us: II
you will do nothing toward the untying
of knot that may ruin three lives, ].
WILL
s'Panl Annerley."
'sBut do not pursue this matter" she
says eagerly, going step or two nearer
to him and laying her hand upon his
arm. s'Do not, [ implore your
II shall pursue it until the iniquitous
words are said that will bind you to him
for life, replies he doggedly. May"
grasping her hand as she turns hopelessly
away from him, ''do not think me I'M
kind, my love; il is for your happiness as
for my own / strive
eff indeed, you desire my happiness,
cries she, risking all things in her long
ing to save him from q vengeance that
some instructive knowledge teaches her
will be deadly, tabstain from interven-
ton of any sort Do not seek Paul An
nerley. Let me fulfill my destiny. Let
me marry him. Believe me, there is no
hoper'
He might perhaps have misjudged her,
and have believed her already welded in
heart to Annerley, but for her conclud-
ing words. But these, and the melan-
choly light in her large eyes, reassure
him of the truth that in reality she is al
together his. There is, however, SO keen
q sense of WEAKNESS In her attitude and
that he resolves on refraining
from further argument.
ttWellD he saws with an attempt at !